Multiplications Tables Check (MTC)
What is the MTC?
A formal test of multiplication skills that takes place in the summer term of Year 4. Primary-school children are expected to know all their times tables up to 12x12. Under the current National Curriculum, children are supposed to know their times tables by the end of Year 4, but until recently they were not formally tested on them other than through multiplication questions in the Year 6 maths SATs.
How will children be tested?
Children will be tested using an on-screen check (on a computer or a tablet), where they will have to answer multiplication questions against the clock.
The test will last no longer than 5 minutes and is similar to other tests already used by primary schools. Their answers will be marked instantly. Children will have 6 seconds to answer each question in a series of 25. Each question will be worth one mark and be presented to the child in this format:
n1 x n2 = ____
Questions will be selected from the 121 number facts that make up the multiplication tables from 2 to 12, with a particular focus on the 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 times tables as they are considered to be the most challenging. Each question will only appear once in any 25-question series, and children won't be asked to answer reversals of a question as part of the check (so if they've already answered 3 x 4 they won't be asked about 4 x 3).
Once the child has inputted their answer on the computer / device they are using, there will be a three-second pause before the next question appears. Children will be given the opportunity to practise answering questions in this format before the official check begins.
The six-second time limit per question has been decided on by the DfE because it should allow children enough time to demonstrate their recall of times tables without giving them the time to work out the answers to each question.
How will the multiplication tables check results be reported?
Pupils' individual results will be made available to schools. It's unlikely that children will be told their individual score, but schools will be required to report the results to parents or carers. School-level results won't be made publicly available or be used in league / performance tables.
Check out our PowerPoint from the Year 4 MTC Evening and The School Run’s parental guide in the ‘Documents’ section of this page for more information.
There is also infomation on the DFE website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum-assessments-information-for-parents
